Broken rules

On 5^th July 2013, we boarded the Netravati express (a train from Kurla terminus to Trivandrum central) from Panvel station at 1:00 pm.  Journey with my mother is generally exciting and cheerful.  Unfortunately we both were unwell and the fight of fever makes us feel the journey is long.

My parents always insist me to travel by 2^nd AC when I travel alone.  According to them, more than comfort their daughter would be safe with better crowd around. Is there any truth in this? I really doubt.

Me and my mom got settled in the berths (27, side lower & 29, lower) allotted to us. There was a middle aged man sitting at the window side opposite to berth no: 29. He was having lunch when we entered the train. After arranging our luggage I set bed for mom as she was unwell. The co passenger seemed to be a decent person. When he saw me arranging my side lower berth, he told me to shift to his lower berth in exchange of my side lower. The deal was good for both of us as I was able to be with my mom and he gets his privacy too.

The cooperative co-passenger’s mobile phone was ringing throughout. From his replies I made out that he is a business man handling a hospital and a lab in Malad and various other parts of Mumbai.

As the journey proceeded, we started knowing more about him through his phone calls. He was loud and outspoken. The two other co passengers lent their ears to him. He happily explained his business model and the way he makes money in a metro city like Mumbai.

From two- three anecdotes he made himself clear that ethics is not something he followed or valued neither in business nor in life.

 He tried all his ways to be amicable with me and mom. The tricks did not work with both the travel veterans who travelled the length and breadth of the country. He did not even manage to get our names.

We later on got the reason how other co passengers turned this beasts’ friends. It was ‘sprin- off’ mixed with Vodka was the secret behind the formation of the bond between them. Those two travellers invited their other friends and totally 7 men fitted inside that side lower berth and turned that 6 inch place a BAR literally.

Others too opened their stock of alcohol and started celebrating their evening as if they were in a mediocre bar in Mumbai city. Cracking   wicked jokes and comments they were happily partying in Netravati express 16345.

It’s not because the other co passengers who were the victims of their partying were not reactive. We did not have any voice. The middle aged business man, the leader of the gang is a regular traveller and acquaint of all pantry workers and ticket checkers in the train. They even serve him alcohol and allow him to travel ticketless if need arises.

Rules and regulations laid down by Indian railway have been forgotten by not only the watchdogs but those who are liable to follow that.

How will my mom allow me to travel alone even in a 2^nd AC class? Any mom after seeing and experiencing this blasphemy allow her daughter to travel alone?

In India rules are meant to be broken, often watchdogs of these rules are culprit for breaking those regulations. It’s not the absence of rules and regulations rather failed implementation nullifies the existence of such rules. We mourn for victims but we do not bother to prevent it.